It's Been A While, But Hello! :)

Swamped With Work, But Still Swimming.

Just keep swimming? Or just keep writing? ;) It's Sunday, and I don't normally work weekends if I can help it, but I fell a little behind over the week... so here I am. It's okay though. I didn't have anything else planned for the weekend, other than running an errand yesterday, so I'm fine with working today. I'm kind of swamped with work. Here's what's on my plate: - Finishing up a 4,000-word order on a kitchen appliance. I have already written over 2,000 words, so I have no doubt I'll finish it tonight. It's due on Tuesday, but I would rather submit it before the weekend ends. - Completing a 700-word order on home decor/furniture. I've been receiving work from this client at least once or twice a week for several weeks now, so I found my groove with writing it. It's due by 3am (tonight into tomorrow), but I know I'll get it done on time. And that's what's on the agenda today. If you're writing anything this weekend, I hope the gears are turning well! As for me, I need to stop procrastinating and get my work done. :)

“Stop doubting yourself. Work hard and make it happen.”

— Unknown

Quotable – Stephen Leigh

Read more about the author here

Lol, welp.

The one true thing that makes you a writer is that you write. 🧚🏻‍♂️✨✨

Writing at The Coffee Shop.

I live pretty close to a local coffee shop, which offers free Wi-Fi. I decided to start working on my writing orders at this coffee shop 1-2 a week. It was going well. I was able to get out of the house a few days a week, and it helped me to focus on my work with minimal distractions. It's only a few minutes from my home, and my niece works here, so we can walk together at times. Now? I'm here 4-5 days a week. My brain associates it with work, so I'm able to focus better on my writing orders. I barely get distracted by anything or even open social media. It's just me, my headphones, and my work. It's not crowded often and the employees are so welcoming. The prices are also reasonable, which is a must because I won't write here without at least purchasing a beverage. It's a small/local business, so I want to support them as best as I can. Having a place to just focus and write has been a game-changer for me. I think I also needed to get out of the house (without constantly walking to the store to do so). It's been working out for me, and I think coming here is one of the best decisions I've made for my writing. Furthermore, I can stay home if I need a mental health day, the weather is unkind, or I feel under the weather. But I also like the option of being able to walk up here at the last minute to get out or focus on an order. :)

Just keep swimming. Just keep writing. Goodnight, everyone! :)

Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.

— Louis L'Amour

I’m Looking For Legit MTurk Alternatives

Hello, everyone. I'm going to share a short story followed by a question.

Around 10 years ago, I started doing various tasks on Amazon MTurk. It was a nice way to make a little extra money, even if it was just spare change. There were even times when I could find short writing-related tasks. Basically, I enjoyed my time there because it was nice to change things up every now and then. Then one day, I was told they couldn't verify me, so I couldn't use MTurk anymore. I even contacted them a few years later to try again, which they allowed, and they still couldn't verify me. I honestly have no idea why because I sent everything they required, but unfortunately, I figured I should just throw in the towel. So here is my question, does anyone know of any legit MTurk alternatives? I'd prefer websites over apps (but I'm open to apps) that pay via PayPal. I'm not looking for anything that I need a paid membership to use (I don't know if that's a thing with MTurk alternatives, but I just wanted to clarify that one). Please, I'm looking for serious, legit answers only. I'm not going to respond to any spam. If anyone knows of any alternatives, thank you in advance. I'll also search for alternatives on my own, but I thought I'd see if anyone has any experience on any of the websites or apps. Thank you so much, and I hope you all have a great weekend! :)

I've Joined Two More Writing Websites.

I recently decided to take the leap and join Medium and Vocal Media, which have both been added to my Linktree. I’m grateful to be a freelance writer. I love what I do, and I enjoy working with my clients. But sometimes, I need a creative outlet to just express myself and interact with others. I can do just that on Medium and Vocal Media. Now, I don’t expect to make bank on either website (I was just accepted into the Medium Partner Program and Vocal Media pays per view. I’ll have to elaborate on each website at some point). It would be a nice little side hustle; spare change to add to my savings account. However, I know that’s going to take time to get to that point. I’ve been freelance writing since 2009, so this isn’t my first rodeo. I took my time gaining followers on Medium, so I can take my time with earning on both websites. Right now, I’m enjoying having other places to share my thoughts, feelings, and experiences. :) And hey, maybe I’ll make some new friends! I don’t really have a lot of friends in the writing community because it’s not something I thought or knew to branch out in, so maybe that’ll change on these websites.

I did link both of my pages in the opening paragraph, so you’re welcome to follow me on either if you have an account and want to  (but no pressure or obligation). Okay, I do have a freelance writing order for a client to work on, so I need to get that finished. I may catch you all a little later. :) 

First Post in Months!

Hey, hey, hey! It's been quite a while, and I've been meaning to sign back in and post, but I just haven't gotten around to it… until now.

I'll start off by sharing the reason I had stopped posting altogether. I was dealing with anxiety (which led to depression) for some of February and a good chunk of March. I've been dealing with it for years, but it became unmanageable and disrupted my diet and sleep habits. Since finding a psychiatriast (in addition to my therapist), I've gotten my medication changed and adopted healthy outlets (i.e., Animal Crossing and getting outside), and my anxiety is back at a mangeable level.

Next, work had picked up across several platforms, so I've been busy with my writing orders. I'm not complaining though; I'm grateful for the work, even when I was swamped. I would rather be stressed because I have too much than worried because I don't have enough.

Finally, I've been working on my work-life balance, so once I'm finished with my work, I'll usually shut down the laptop for the night. I decided this evening that I should really get in here and post something.

So, that's basically where I've been. I'll try to do better at sharing updates on my writing journey. If anyone reads this, or even if you don't, I hope you're all doing well! :)